Blueberry plant named &#39;FCM12-045&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FCM12-045’ is provided. ‘FCM12-045’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FF-128’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘ZF04-002’ (pollen parent, unpatented). ‘FCM12-045’ selected because it flowered and fruited more than most genotypes in a low latitude, zero chill evergreen production system and had larger fruit than the commercial variety Biloxi with a small picking scar. ‘FCM12-045’ also produces significant numbers of flower buds in a zero chill climate, resulting in a harvest window that is more concentrated than ‘Biloxi’, which fruits more heavily on primocanes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/284,537 filed on Oct. 2, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

Latin name of the family, genus, and species: Family—Ericaceae. Genus—Vaccinium. Species—corymbosum hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘FCM12-045’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. hybrid) plant, referred to as ‘FCM12-045,’ as herein described and illustrated. The new blueberry plant variety ‘FCM12-045’ was selected near Colima City, state of Colima, Mexico in 2012. ‘FCM12-045’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety has high vigor, ripens at the same time as the variety ‘Biloxi’, and produces a medium to large berry with good firmness, and a small picking scar on fruit derived from the current season's growth. ‘FCM12-045’ was selected for use in an evergreen production system in areas where zero effective chilling hours may be accumulated. The growing region of Colima, Mexico where ‘FCM12-045’ was originally selected is at a low latitude (˜19.5° N) with a sub-tropical climate. In this region, temperatures rarely fall below 45° F. (the maximum temperature at which blueberry buds accumulate chill units to break dormancy) and day lengths only vary from between 10.8 hours in December to 13.2 hours in June. Under these conditions, many traditional low-chill blueberry varieties (developed in latitudes)25° -35°) do not produce flower buds or flowers. In the case of blueberry varieties that do flower under these conditions, the flowers are produced primarily on the current season's growth that is often referred to as a ‘primocane’ in the blueberry industry. The ‘primocane’ inflorescences tend to be very elongated in form compared to the inflorescence produced at higher latitudes from dormant buds, and the fruit often does not abscise well from the pedicel, resulting in a large picking scar which greatly limits shelf life. The blueberry industry in this area is dominated by the variety ‘Biloxi’. ‘Biloxi’ is one of the few traditional low chill varieties that grows well and produces fruit with a good picking scar in this growing environment. However, ‘Biloxi’ often produces an excessive proportion of small, unmarketable fruit. ‘FCM12-045’ was exceptional because it flowered and fruited more than most genotypes but also had larger fruit than Biloxi with a small picking scar. ‘FCM12-045’ also produces significant numbers of flower buds in a zero chill climate, resulting in a harvest window that is more concentrated than ‘Biloxi’, which fruits more heavily on priniocanes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FF-128’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘ZF04-002’ (pollen parent, unpatented).

The cross that produced ‘FCM12-045’ (denominated by the cross code ‘X08-128’) was made in Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2008.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FCM12-045’ was initially propagated by softwood cuttings in 2012. Rooted plants from these cuttings were field planted in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and also shipped to Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2013. Additional plants have been propagated via softwood cuttings from the plants established in Tala, Mexico in 2014. The plants sent to Lowell, Oreg. were also propagated via softwood cuttings in 2014 and successfully used to establish in vitro culture lines in 2014.

The seedling family that produced ‘FCM12-045’ was initially grown in 50 cell propagation trays and shipped to Mexico in March, 2011 after the plants had reached sufficient size to be field planted. They were planted in a commercial blueberry field near Colima City, state of Colima, Mexico and evaluated for fruit production and quality beginning in December 2011. ‘FCM12-045’ was selected in 2012 because it was very vigorous, high yielding, highly evergreen, and had a very concentrated ripening period in an evergreen, zero chill production system. After being selected in Colima, ‘FCM12-045’ was propagated by softwood cuttings and a ten plant plot was established in Tala, Mexico (near Guadalajara). The ten plant plot was evaluated for fruit quality and yield in comparison to the standard varieties ‘Biloxi’ and ‘Ventura’ beginning in December, 2013. After two harvest seasons of evaluation, the yield and fruit quality of ‘FCM12-045’ were deemed sufficiently good to warrant launching it as a commercial variety.

The new blueberry plant ‘FCM12-045’ as it grows in Tala, Mexico is distinguished by a highly branched growth habit, with narrowly spaced internodes, and highly evergreen leaves resulting in a rounded plant shape. The new blueberry plant ‘FCM12-045’ has new leaves that are often reddish-orange in hue and very broadly elliptic or even round in shape, urceolate flowers, and firm, large fruit with a moderately dark color and flattened shape. The new blueberry plant ‘FCM12-045’ consistently produces larger fruit than the standard variety ‘Biloxi’, which is a very desirable characteristic.

Plants of ‘FCM12-045’ propagated from softwood cuttings or in vitro are phenotypically stable and exhibit the same characteristics as the original plant. The parents ‘FF-128’ and ‘ZF04-002’ have not been evaluated in the same environment of Mexico that ‘FCM12-045’ was selected in. In California, USA ‘FF-128’ was discarded after one season of evaluation because it did not grow well there. We have very few other notes of the parent ‘FF-128’ except the original selection notes for it from Lowell, Oreg. where it was noted that it had a concentrated ripening period and firm fruit. The parent ‘ZF04-002’ has been much more extensively evaluated. The parent ‘ZF04-002’ is similar to the new blueberry plant ‘FCM12-045’ in that it is very evergreen, with a highly branched growth habit and short internodes. However, the leaves of ‘FCM12-045’ are much more rounded at the apex than leaves of the parent ‘ZF04-002’ which have an acute apex. The fruit of ‘FCM12-045’ is similar in shape to the parent ‘ZF04-002’ but fruit of ‘ZF04-002’ have a much heavier bloom resulting a lighter blue color than ‘FCM12-045’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a mature plant of ‘FCM12-045’ grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Dec. 16, 2015.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a young plant of ‘FCM12-045’ grown in Delano, Calif. and photographed on May 7, 2015.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of fruit of ‘FCM12-045’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Jun. 8, 2016.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of flowers of ‘FCM12-045’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Mar. 23, 2016.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of leaves and young shoot of ‘FCM12-045’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Jun. 8, 2016.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of leaves of ‘FCM12-045’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Dec. 15, 2015 showing fall color.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of stems of ‘FCM12-045’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Mar. 31, 2016.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FCM12-045’. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. All measurements are the average of five observations. The plant history was taken on mature plants approximately 2 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tala, state of Jalisco, Mexico unless otherwise noted (observations on fall leaf color and some other traits were collected on plants grown in Lowell, Oreg.). Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Tala, State of Jalisco, Mexico. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990) unless noted otherwise. Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Variety:     -   -   Classification.—a. Family — Ericaceae b. Genus —             Vaccinium c. Species — corymbosum d. Common Name — Southern             Highbush Blueberry.         -   Parentage.—a. Female Parent — ‘FF-128’b. Male Parent —             ‘ZF04-002’.         -   Market class.—Commercial blueberry variety intended for the             hand harvest fresh market. -   Plant:     -   -   General.—a. Parentage — Female parent ‘FF-128’ (unpatented)             Male parent ‘ZF04-002’ (unpatented) b. Plant height —             average of 110 cm c. Plant width — average of 116 cm d.             Growth habit — erect e. Growth — vigorous f. Productivity —             excellent, average of 3.30 kilos per plant, per season on a             2 year old plant, compared to 1.86 kilos per plant per             season for the commercial variety ‘Biloxi’. g. Cold             hardiness — not determined, likely USDA zone 7 given             southern highbush parentage. h. Chilling requirement — not             determined, estimated at less than 700 hours less than 45             degrees Fahrenheit. Capable of fruiting well with zero chill             hours when maintained in an evergreen state of growth. i.             Leafing — excellent leafing j. Twigginess — very twiggy k.             Resistance/susceptibility to root rot (Phytopthora             cinnamomii) — does not appear to be overly susceptible l.             Resistance/susceptibility to stem blight (Botryosphaeria             sp.) — does not appear to be overly susceptible m.             Resistance/susceptibility to Phomopsis Twig Blight             (Phomopsis vaccinii) not evaluated n.             Resistance/susceptibility to Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) —             does not appear to be overly susceptible o.             Resistance/susceptibility to Leaf Spot (Septoria spp.) —             does not appear to be overly susceptible p.             Resistance/susceptibility to Leaf Rust (Naohidemyces             vaccinii) — moderately susceptible to leaf rust q.             Resistance/susceptibility to bud mites (Acalatus vaccinii) —             not evaluated. -   Stem:     -   -   General.—a. Suckering tendency — high b. Mature cane color —             Spinach green 16-0439 c. Mature cane length — average of 55             cm d. Mature cane width — average of 60.2 mm e. Bark texture             — rough f. Fall color on new shoots — not observed in Tala,             Mexico. Pantone colors Green Oasis 15-0538 and Barn Red             18-1531in Lowell, Oreg. g. Surface texture of new wood —             smooth h. Internode length on strong, new shoots — average             of 16.2 mm i. Average number of buds per fruiting lateral —             average of 5.8. -   Foliage:     -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst — not             observed in Tala, Mexico. In Lowell, Oreg., late February to             early March. b. Leaf color (top side) — Pantone color Chive             19-0323 c. Leaf color (under side) — Pantone colors             Mistletoe 16-0220 to Nile 14-0223 d. Fall leaf color — Not             observed in Tala, Mexico. In Lowell, Oreg. Pantone colors             Banana 13-0947, Barn Red 18-1531, Red Earth 18-1444, Fiery             Red 18-1664, True Red 19-1664, Chinese Red 19-1606, Burgundy             19-1617, and Chive 19-0323 e. Leaf arrangement —             alternate f. Leaf shape — broadly elliptic g. Leaf margins —             entire h. Leaf venation — pinnate i. Leaf apices — obtuse to             rounded j. Leaf bases — obtuse k. Leaf length — average of             55.6 mm l. Leaf width — average of 33.0 mm m. Leaf             length/width ratio — 1.68 (medium) n. Leaf nectaries —             absent o. Pubescence of upper side — absent p. Pubescence of             lower side — absent q. Cross sectional profile — slightly             revolute r. Longitudinal profile — slightly undulate s.             Attitude — erect (acute leaf angle).         -   Petioles.—a. Length — average of 3.57 mm b. Width — average             of 2.17 mm c. Color — Tarragon 15-0326 d. Surface texture —             smooth. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of flowering — In Tala, Mexico             approximately September 15 depending on the timing of the             previous pruning. In Lowell, Oreg.: early March. b. Time of             50% anthesis — In Tala, Mexico approximately October 15             depending on timing of the previous pruning. In Lowell,             Oreg.: late March. c. Flower shape — Urceolate d. Flower             fragrance — mild, sweet, like Jasmine e. Immature flower             color — Reed Yellow 13-0915 f. Pollen Staining — 95% viable             stained with acetocarmine red g. Self-compatibility —             excellent, 81.2% of self-pollinated flowers reaching             maturity compared to 89% of flowers reaching maturity when             pollinated with pollen of ‘Biloxi’.         -   Corolla.—a. Color — Pantone Antique white 11-0105 b. Length             — average of 10.78 mm c. Width — average of 8.592 mm d.             Aperture width — average of 4.32 mm e. Anthocyanin             coloration of corolla at time of anthesis — in Tala ,             Mexico: low. In Lowell, Oreg.: medium. f. Corolla ridges —             present, distinct g. Protrusion of stigma — average of −0.6             mm below lip of corolla.         -   Inflorescence.—a. Length — average of 46.3 mm b. Diameter —             average of 33.7 mm c. Length of peduncle — average of 30.7             mm d. Surface texture of peduncle — smooth e. Color of             peduncle — Pantone Spinach green 16-0439 f. Length of             pedicel — average of 10.98 mm g. Surface texture of pedicel             — smooth h. Color of pedicel — Pantone Green Oasis             15-0538 i. Number of flowers per cluster — average of 6.4 j.             Flower cluster density — low (loose).         -   Calyx (with sepals): a. Diameter — average of 6.5 mm b.             Color (sepals) — Pantone Lettuce Green 13-0324 c. Calyx             surface — smooth.         -   Stamen.—a. Length — average of 4.04 mm b. Number per flower             — 10 c. Filament color — Celery Green 13-0532.         -   Pistil.—a. Length — average of 8.52 mm b. Ovary color             (exterior) — Pantone Spinach green 16-0439 c. Style: Length             — average of 6.66 mm.         -   Anther.—a. Length — average of 3.8 mm b. Number — 10 c.             Color — Pantone Burnt Orange 16-1448.         -   Pollen.—a. Abundance — medium b. Color — Pantone Winter             White 11-0507. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—a. Time of fruit ripening — approximately October             15 in Tala, Mexico, depending on timing of previous             pruning. b. Time of 50% maturity — approximately December 5             in Tala, Mexico, depending on timing of previous pruning. In             Lowell, Oreg.: June 12 c. Fruit development period —             approximately 45 days d. Mean harvest date — Peak harvest             occurred on February 12 in Tala, Mexico when plants were             pruned the previous May. Dependent on timing of previous             pruning. e. Mean date last pick — Last pick occurred on May             1 in Tala, Mexico when plants were pruned the previous May.             Dependent on timing of previous pruning. f. Cluster density             — medium g. Berries per cluster — average of 8.4 h. Unripe             fruit color — Pantone Silver Green 12-6204 i. Ripe berry             color — Pantone Purple Impression 17-3919 j. Berry skin             color after polishing — Pantone Dark Navy 19-4013 k. Berry             surface wax abundance — low l. Berry flesh color — Pantone             Reed 13-0215 m. Berry weight — average of 2.25 g per berry,             compared to average of 1.16 g per berry for commercial             variety ‘Biloxi’ for fruit grown in Tala, Mexico. n. Berry             height from calyx to scar — average of 12.86 mm o. Berry             diameter — average of 20.42 mm p. Calyx aperture — average             of 8.64 mm q. Calyx depth — average of 1.6 mm r. Pedicel             length — average of 10.29 mm s. Pedicel surface texture —             smooth t. Berry detachment force — medium u. Berry shape —             oblong v. Fruit stem scar — small, dry w. Berry flavor —             sweet with low acidity x. Sweetness when ripe — medium y.             Firmness when ripe — high (1) Acidity when ripe — low (2)             Storage quality — excellent (3) Suitability for mechanical             harvesting — low due to prolonged harvest period (4)             Self-fruitfulness — excellent (5) Uses — fresh market fruit             production. -   Seed:     -   -   General.—a. Seed abundance in fruit — medium b. Seed color —             Pantone Pecan Brown 17-1430 c. Seed dry weight — 3 mg d.             Seed length — average of 2.04 mm. -   Comparison between parental and commercial cultivars:

COMPARISON TABLE Denomination Characteristic State of State of expression of similar for expression of of candidate variety comparison similar variety variety (FCM12-045) FF-128 Plant Vigor Low High ZF04-002 Leaf shape Lanceolate Elliptic ZF04-002 Fruit: intensity high low of bloom Biloxi Leaf shape Lanceolate Elliptic Biloxi Leaf margin Slightly serrate Entire Ventura Fruit: intensity High low of bloom 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘FCM12-045’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 